Insulating switch shell



Nov. 8, 1927.

T.ABOTH INSULATING SWITCH SHELL Filed March 26, 1925 ATTORN EY,

Patented Nev. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcr..

TONUES A. BOTH, 0F STRATEGIE), C0NNIEC'.ILI.C`".'.,v ASSIGNORTO THE CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF `|B'R'lll-.rlPOB'T, CONNECTICUT, A CO3-,

PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

INSULATING SWITCH SHELL.

application ined March 26, 19,23. seria; no. 627,613.`

This invention relates to electric lampl sockets, switch shells and the like, and has for an object tov provide an insulating shell or casing for these switches, sockets and like devices which will be simple in construction, may be maderelatively light and thin, 'may be easily assembled. Also one in which when assembled the various elements` will be securely fastened together and not liable to` or .electrical devices being shown in'elevation. Fig. 3 1s asimilar view snowing the in-V vention as applied to an insulating lamp base. A

Fig. i is a sid-e elevation looking from .the right oi Fig. 3 and with the upper section oi' the shell removed.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section shell'of a pendant switch showing the application o my invention thereto. l

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig.` 5 but with the two sections of the shell separated, and

Fig. 7 is a view similar .to Fig. 3 showing how, in the case of long shells, the casing may be made .in more than .two sections. n

Refer-ring to Figs. 1 and 2, l0 denotes the body member and 11 .the cap member .of ,a shell, yone of which has a .flange 12 seated in an annular groove 0I" .the other member at their edges toprovide a tight joint and hold them in alignment. Enclosed by these sections ot the shellor casing arethe works which comprises the electrical elements, the term works being -used generically .to indicate the electrical devices whether they comprise merely an insulating block .carrying the lamp contacts and the binding Vposts for .the connection oi the leadwires thereto, the lamp contacts in combination :with -a switch, or merely a switch alone. In Figs. ,1 .and 2 ;I Y have shown it as comprising .the insulating one i the binding through the' blocks 13 .carrying the kusual lamp contacts, one of which is the screw threaded metal shell 14 to ,receive the usual lthreaded ferrule carried hy an incandescent lamp. 'Ihc switch elements, of which I have .shown only the key 15, are mounted within these blocks and are notillustrated as vthey form no part of my invention. I have, however', shown with the leadwi-res'l' inthe usual manner.

For the purpose of securingthe two section of the shell together I have .made use of the works as a partof the securing means. Within the cap member 11 I have mountedk two securing fingers 18 preferably of pieces ots'heet metal .and secured in the cap by mean-s of rivets 19'molded within the cap and having the free ends projecting through and riveted over laterally projecting ends-oi the fingers 18, ,as shownjat 20.` The blocks 1'3 1of the works are provided with longitudinally extending lgroovesor recesses 21 in their outei` walls to receive these lingers 1 8.

and at their free ends these lingers are pro.-l vided with heads `22 of greater width than the bodies .of the `fingers., so that when these ingers Iare seated in the grooves or recesses posts 16 'for connection 2'1 the .under sides of these .heads willengage the walls of the-block .at the end of the groove or recess, as shown in Fig. 1,. The lingers are yieldable, however, and their free end-s may be drawn outwardly from the blocks 1 3 to disconnect them from engagement therewith. 'llheother or body member 10 of the `s hellor casing is internally. threaded, as shown at -23 for engagement on the outside of the threaded shell -or lamp contact 14, and `at a vpoint adj agent the inner end or" this threaded portion or opposite ythe heads 22 when .the shell is assembled .this member is reduced in diameter, as shown at 24, ,so as to prevent ythe heads moving outwardly fromfengagement .with the blocks 13, i

fastened together, the inner walls 24 .of .the y body member .securely holding the fingers in these recesses. If it is .desired .to disassemble the shell 4.all .that is vnecessary is to '.unsclew the body member 19 when the heads of lin- V gers 18 may be easily removed trom holding Y base also has an opening 28 therethrough for rule carried by a lamp.

Aen

the passage ot the leadwires 29 leading to the binding posts, one ot which is shown at30. Carried by the insulating block 31 are the worlsvto be enclosed in the shell. In this instance thereV is no switch carried by this.

element, but merely the binding posts and thelamp contacts including the usual screw threaded shell 32 corresponding to shell 14 in the first form, and which shell is adapted for threaded engagement with the threaded ter grooves 33 in its outer surface adapted to receive the securing ingers 34, which fingers are.` similar to those indicated at18 in the rst form, but somewhat shorter in length, and they are securedpin the base by suitable screws 35. Theselingers also have .an`enlarged head 36 to engage the block 3l at one end of the grooves 33. The body section 26 is internally threaded at `37 for engagement on the outside of the lamp contact shell`32,

and is also providedwith a reduced portion 38 corresponding .to that indicated at 24 in p In assembling, the block 31 carrying the lamp contacts is placed onV the iirst form.

the base 25 withthe lingers 34 in the grooves l33 as indicated, the heads 36 engaging the,

top of the block. The body section 26 is now threaded onto the shell 32 bringing its inner end into engagement with the base and securely clamping the elements together as in the first form, the walls of reduced portion 3S holding the heads 36 ot lingers` 34 in engagement with the block 31.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 I have indicated how the invention may be applied to a pendant switch. Here the shell or casing comprises two sections 39 and 40, the upper section 39 being the same as cap 11`in the :form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and has two securing fingers 41 with enlarged heads 42 secured in thissection by rivets 19 molded therein and riveted over at 2O the same as shown in Fig. 2. In this case, however, there is no screw threaded lamp contact or shell, and'theie tore, the lower section 43 ot the insulating block 44 is threaded on its outer wall. The insulating block 44 is preferably in two sections, as is usual inV these constructions, and carries a switch mechanism such as a pull switch ora push through switch, which'v is that used in the present case, and of which the operating button isin'dicated at 4:5 and The block 31 has` Lei-aco@ 46. One of the binding posts for this device is shown at 47 for connection with the depending leadwires 48. The insulating block 44 ofthe works is provided with grooves or recesses 49V in its outerwalls and extending throughout the length of the lower section 43. The fingers 41 are adapted to seat in these grooves with the head 42 engaging the lower end of this block. As the lower'section of the insulating block 44 is threaded on its outer walls it ispreferably made somewhat larger in diameter than the upper section. For securing the elements together the lower section 40 of the casing is internally threaded, as indieated'at 50, and is adapted tor threaded engagement with the threads on 43 securely clamping the elements together as in the other form. The `internal threads@ 50 arepret'erably stopped short oi the end of the section 40 to leave a cylindrical wall 51 which, when theeleinents are in the position shown in Fig. 5, engages the heads 42 and retainsthem in holding position. f

In Fig. 7` the invention is, shown as applied toa lamp base which has a switch mechanism, and as the works in this case are of greaterv length, a longer Vshell is required to accommodate this mechanism. This shell' may, ofcourse, be made ot two sections, as shown inFig. 3, but in this figure I have shown the use ot three sections.` These sectionsare indicated at 52, thelower or base section provided with openings 53 for the passageof screws tor securingit` to a support, intermediate section 54, and the upper section 55. v Ifthe shellis made in two sections only the upper and intermediate scctions 55 and 54`would` be made in one piece and correspond with the sections 1() and 26 of theforms show in Figs. 1 and 2 and 3, the increased length of the shell being accounted tor by increasing the height vof the base 52.l The works `comprise. the two insulating. blocks 56 carrying the switch mechanism, not shown, the binding posts, one o'l which is shown at 57, for connection to theleadwires los 58, and the usual lamp contacts including The elements are assembled by placing the blocks 56 in the base section With the fingers 6l in the grooves 60 and the heads 62 engaging the upper end ot the upper block. The central section 54 is then placed about these blocks and the top section threaded onto the shell 59 securely clamping the elements together. The intermediate section 54.- is reduced in diameter opposite the heads 62, as shoivn at 66, to prevent outward movement ot these heads and disengagement from the bloclrs 56 When the elements are iu asembled relation.

It Will be apparent trom the foregoing description that the same fundamental means is used in all the terms shoivn tor securing the sections ol" the shell together and to the support ior the electrical devices. The iingers secure the insulating supporting blocks tor the electrical devices in one section ot the shell or casing and then the other section ot the shell or casing has threaded engagement on an outer Wall of the Works, either the screiv threaded lamp contact, as shown in Figs. l to 4 and 7, or a section ot the insulating block, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Means is also provided for securely retaining the holding i'ingers in engagement with the bloclr when the elements are in assembled relation.

It will also bev apparent that by merely unscreiving one section of the shell all the devices may be separated for inspection or repair ot the electrical devices. rlhe shell or casing may be made ot various material such as porcelain or other molded. insulating substances, and When assembled is very neat and attractive in appearance.

Having thus -set forth the nature ot my invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the character described comprising an insulating shell composed of a plurality ot sections, an insulating block enclosed by said shell, electrical devices carried by said block including an externally threaded lamp contact, said block being provided with longitudinally extending recesses in it: outer ivalls, fingers secured in one ot the shell sections seated in said recesses and provided with laterally extending shoulders engaging' the walls ot the block at one end et the recesses to secure the same in said shell section, and another section ot the shell being internally threaded to engae said threaded lamp cont-act and provided with a Wall adjacent the free ends ot the lingers to retain them in the recesses.

2. A device ot the character described comprising an insulating shell composed of a plurality ot sections, an insulating block enclosed by said shell, electrical devices carried by said bloclr including an externally threaded lamp contact, said block being provided withlongitudinally extending recesses in its outer Walls, laterally movable lingers secured in one ot the shell sections seated in said recesses and provided with laterally extending shoulders engaging the Walls of the block at one end ot the recesses to secure the same in said shell section, and another section ot the shell being internally threaded to engage said threaded lamp contact and provided with a wallto retain said fingers in the recesses in holding posit-ion, one of the shell sections being provided With an annular groove at its open end and the other shell section being provided kwith a rflange .seated in' said groove.

3. A device of the character described comprising an insulating shell composed of a plurality ot sections, Works comprising an insert enclosed by said shell having longitudinally extending recesses in its outer vvalls With shoulders leading laterally from said recesses and including an externally thread-ed member, laterally yieldable fingers secured in one ot said sections and having laterally projecting heads forming laterally extending shoulders engaging the shoulders of said insert leading laterally from the recesse.;` to secure the insert in said section, and another section ot the shell being internally threaded lto engage the threads on said eX- ternally threaded member and provided with a Wall adjacent said lingers to retain themY in the recesses and in holding engagement with said works. y

el. A device ot the character described comprising an insulating shell composed ot a plurality of sections, Works enclosed by sain shell including an insulating bloclr havingl longitudinally extending grooves, and a threaded member carried by said block, laterallyV yieldable lingers secured in yone of the shell sections` and having lateral extensions to engage the block at one end ofV the grooves to hold the same in said section, and another-section ot' the shell having threaded engagement with said threaded member and provided with a Wall adjacent said lingers to retain them Ain holding engagement with said bloclr, one oit the shell sections being provided With an annular groove at its open i end and the other shell section being provided with a flange seated in said groove. ln testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

TGNJES A. BOTH. 

